Our Sidekick community is made up of people from all walks of life. Their backgrounds, their passions and their stories are part of what makes them so good at what they do. Renee and Harrison are a Brisbane based Sidekicking couple who have worked with sharks, travelled the world and know the Star Wars Universe inside and out.
How Did You Meet?
Renee: Before Sidekicker, Harry was working at one of Brisbane’s best up-and-coming microbreweries, and I was embroidering for some of the largest companies in Australia. Every Friday I’d pop down the road for a few cheeky bevvies with friends. Harry was always there and I got to know him by sassing him every week. After a shift one night, he asked me on a date and the rest is history.
How did you land your job at Sidekicker?
Harrison: We weren’t quite getting enough hours to make ends meet and Renee’s friend from Melbourne told us about shift work he was getting through an app on his phone. So we researched it a little and discovered we could get work beamed through to us in a bunch of different industries. We thought, ‘ok why not?’
R: We had the best interview that we were unnecessarily a little nervous for and it’s been great ever since.
Tell us something unique about yourselves
H: Renee says I know more about Star Wars than just about anyone. I have around 300 Star Wars novels alone.
R: Don’t even get me started on his comics! I’m an avid reader and have over 1,000 books on my e-reader. I also love to travel, but off the beaten path. So far I’ve been to Fiji, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, England, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Coolest thing you’ve done at Sidekicker?
H: The coolest thing that we’ve done at Sidekicker is actually upcoming. We’re both working at the Commonwealth Games which is super cool because it’s something most people wouldn’t get to do in their lifetime!
R: Before I found Sidekicker, I volunteered at a shark cage diving and research program in South Africa that also housed a penguin rescue centre. My job there was to feed baby penguins and help with shark cage diving. #sciencesavessharks
What was your first job?
R: My first unofficial job was winding bobbins for my mum for her sewing machine, I got 10 cents a pop! Great deal right?!
What did your career pathway look like?
R: Between us we’ve studied event management, Kakadu Indigenous culture, teaching and business. We’ve had jobs doing sales, telecommunication, bartending, building, embroidery, lift operations, cocktail service, first aid and personal assistance.
You might say that we are “multipotentialites” or maybe you could say we just can’t make a decision. I prefer the fancy word for it.
H: As for the future, we’re both studying to teach English as a second language so we can take ourselves overseas. At the moment we’re thinking Nicaragua.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
R: Harry wanted to be a kangaroo until one day he found out that only the lady kangaroos have pouches (devastating.) I remember wanting to be a pirate for a fair while – but a Robin Hood-style pirate where I’d share my treasure with the needy.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to start Sidekicking?
R: Life is too short to sit on the sidelines; take a risk because you never know, it might be the best decision you ever make.
H: Also, no one ever stood out in history by doing the same thing as everyone else.
Why do you love what you do?
R: We love having the flexibility to choose the jobs that are convenient for us. Sometimes we even get to work together! It’s kind of exciting not knowing what you’ll be doing in a few weeks. Whether you’re working for a huge company that everyone knows or a small business to even a sporting stadium. It’s a hell of a way to live.